Flexible-tubing stethoscope



Feb. 7, 3967 E. TAESCHLER FLEXIBLE-TUBING sTETHoscoPE Filed Feb. 24, 1965 United States Patent O 3,302,747 FLEXIBLE-TUBING STETHSCOPE Eduard Taeschler, 18 Katzenschwanzstrasse, Zurich, Switzerland Filed Feb. 24, 1965, Ser. No. 434,997 Claims priority, application Switzerland, Feb. 28, 1964, 2,533/64 6 Claims. (Cl. 181-24) The present invention relates to a flexible-tubing stethoscope having a diaphragm box.

For auscultation, the doctor has different kinds of stethoscopes available, for instance a tube having a listening cup at one end, or a flexible-tubing stethoscope having a diaphragm box. The last-named stethoscopes are more sensitive than the first-named, since the sounds taken up from the body are amplified by the diaphragm. Since in use the diaphragm of a flexible-tubing stethoscope having a diaphragm box is applied directly to the part of the body being investigated, slight displacements between this part of the body and the diaphragm will cause a disturbing noise and this is particularly true when the diaphragm is applied to hairy parts ofthe body.

It has now been found that a flexible-tubing stethoscope of the highest sensitivity and with further practical advantages can be obtained if, according to the invention, there is provided a vdiaphragm consisting of metal, having a central aperture and carrying a listening cup having a central bore coaxial .to the central aperture in the diaphragm.

One example of a flexible-tubing stethoscope according to the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing Where:

FIG. 1 shows the diaphragm box of the stethoscope, partly in section, and

FIG. 2 on a smaller scale, the tubing of the stethoscope with the connecting piece for the diaphragm box.

The flexible-tubing stethoscope shown in the drawings comprises tubings 1 and 2 consisting of flexible material, one end of each tubing being connected tightly to a metal tube 3 or 4, respectively. These metal tubes 3 and 4 are connected to each other by a spring stirrup 5 with joint 6, and they carry at their free ends ear pieces 7 and 8 for insertion into the ear of the person using the stethoscope.

The other end of each of the tubings 1 and 2 is connected to the' pipe branches 9 or 10, respectively, of a connecting piece 11 for `the diaphragm box 12. This connecting piece carries a threaded extension 13, onto which the diaphragm box can be screwed. The bore 14 in the extension 13 is in open connection with the pipes 9 and of the connecting piece 11.

The diaphragm box 12 contains the diaphragm 15 which is clamped firmly with its edge between a shoulder 16 on a ring 17 and a bottom plate 18, and which is in contact with a sealing ring 19. The ring 17 has an internal thread into which the bottom plate 18 is screwed.

The inner wall of the bottom plate 18 runs funnelshaped towards the central bore 20 in a projection 21 provided on the bottom plate and having an internal thread. Provided in the inner wall are grooves 22 which are concentric with the bore 20.

The diaphragm carries a listening cup 23 which is fixed on the diaphragm by means of a threaded socket 24. The threaded socket 24 passes through a central aperture 30 in the diaphragm. The listening cup 23, consisting of thermally insulating material, for instance Plexiglas (registered trademark), has grooves 25 on its outer side, and these grooves 25 are concentric with the central aperture 30 in the listening cup into which the socket 24 is screwed.

The ribs 'between the grooves 25 enable the listening cup 23 to be applied hermetically to a part of the body,

as is the case with the known funnel-shaped stethoscopes.

Of course, the air columns between the listening cup 23 and the ear pieces 7 and 8 should in use be hermetically sealed from the outside. For -this purpose, packings (not shown) are provided between the ear pieces and the tubes 3 and 4, at the places where the stirrup 5 connects to these tubes, and between the connecting piece 11 and the diaphragm box 12.

The heat insulating material of which the listening cup is made has, for the person being examined, the advantage over a metal diaphragm that :it causes no unpleasant cold feeling when applied to a body part.

The bottom plate 18 of the diaphragm box 12 is preferably also made of thermally insulating material, such as Plexiglas.

With its peripheral edge 27 fitting tightly, an annular cap 26 of Plexiglas is pushed onto the ring 17. From the peripheral edge 27, the arch shaped front side 28 of the cap 26 extends to the middle opening 29, in which the listening cup 23 can swing freely.

The cap 26 forms a protection for the diaphragm 15 and, with its arched front side 28, enables the stethoscope to be lightly moved over the surface of the body being examined.

What I claim is:

1. A flexible-tubing stethoscope comprising a diaphragm box, mounted in the diaphragm box a metal diaphragm having a centrally disposed aperture, mounted on the metal diaphragm a listening cup extending away from the metal diaphragm and thus having a side facing the metal diaphragm and a side facing away from the metal diaphragm and having a centrally disposed bore, .the centrally disposed bore of the listening cup extending to and coaxially with the centrally disposed aperture of the metal diaphragm, and defined on the side of the listening cup facing away from the metal diaphragm at least one recess concentric with respect to the bore.

2. A flexible-tubing stethoscope according to claim 1, wherein there is a plurality of said recesses, each in the form of an annular groove.

3. A flexible-tubing stethoscope according to claim 2, wherein said diaphragm -box includes a bottom, said bottom comprising a funnel-shaped wall defining centrally disposed bore and at least one recess concentric with respect to the bore, said wall facing said metal diaphragm.

4. A flexible-tubing stethoscope according to claim 3, wherein said funnel-shaped wall defines a plurality of said recesses, each in the form of an annular groove.

5. A flexible-tubing stethoscope according to claim 4, wherein said diaphragm box further includes an annular cap having a centrally disposed opening and a convexly arcuate outer face, the centrally disposed opening of the annular cap receiving the listening cup with the forwardmost periphery of the listening cup extending only slightly forward of the convexly arcuate outer face of the annular cap.

6. A flexible-tubing stethoscope according to claim 5, wherein the listening cup is made of a thermally linsulating material.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 832,032 10/1906 Borden 18l-24 1,994,008 3/ 1935 Torrance 181-24 2,311,416 2/1943 Salb et al. 181-24 3,067,833 l2/1962 Bodenger 181--24 FOREIGN PATENTS 127,969 6/1919 Great Britain.

RICHARD B. WILKINSON, Primary Examiner. STEPHEN I. TOMSKY, Examiner. 

1. A FLEXIBLE-TUBING STETHOSCOPE COMPRISING A DIAPHRAGM BOX, MOUNTED IN THE DIAPHRAGM BOX A METAL DIAPHRAGM HAVING A CENTRALLY DISPOSED APERTURE, MOUNTED ON THE METAL DIAPHRAGM A LISTENING CUP EXTENDING AWAY FROM THE METAL DIAPHRAGM AND THUS HAVING A SIDE FACING THE METAL DIAPHRAGM AND A SIDE FACING AWAY FROM THE METAL DIAPHRAGM AND HAVING A CENTRALLY DISPOSED BORE, THE CENTRALLY DISPOSED BORE OF THE LISTENING CUP EXTENDING TO AND COAXIALLY WITH THE CENTRALLY DISPOSED APERTURE OF THE METAL DIAPHRAGM, AND DEFINED ON THE SIDE OF THE LISTENING CUP FACING AWAY FROM THE METAL DIAPHRAGM AT LEAST ONE RECESS CONCENTRIC WITH RESPECT TO THE BORE. 